Combat City simulates war, gun battles at former Publix

Decked out in masks, camouflage shirts and black lace-up boots, an army of mostly teenage boys and 20-something men exchanged gunfire from behind plywood barriers.

For more a year, Combat City has hosted war games at its 40,000 -square-foot air-conditioned facility on Aloma Drive. Similar to paintball or laser tag, Combat City has participants battle with AirSoft guns, which are replica firearms that use plastic BBs.

Owner Dave Kaplan opened the first Combat City - an outdoor venue near the Orlando International Airport - several years ago. A Marine turned general contractor, Kaplan wanted a place to play Airsoft with his son.

"There was nowhere to play" back then, Kaplan said. Combat City meets that "demand."

Participants plays games such as Capture the Flag all the while shooting at opponents from behind obstacles set up where grocery aisles once stood.

Combat City in Winter Park is open Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. It's $15 to play all day for those with their own gear, and $30 to play for four hours and rent the gear.